Comparison of the true believer's fleeing (from tribulation) and his impatience in affliction to the agitation and restlessness of chick-peas and other pot-herbs when boiling in the pot, and to their running upwards in order to jump out.

بنگر اندر نخودی در دیگ چون ** می‌جهد بالا چو شد ز آتش زبون

Look at a chickpea in the pot, how it leaps up when it is subjected to the fire.

هر زمان نخود بر آید وقت جوش ** بر سر دیگ و برآرد صد خروش4160

At the time of its being boiled, the chickpea comes up continually to the top of the pot and raises a hundred cries,

که چرا آتش به من در می‌زنی ** چون خریدی چون نگونم می‌کنی

Saying, “Why are you setting the fire on me? Since you bought (and approved) me, how are you turning me upside down?”

می‌زند کفلیز کدبانو که نی ** خوش بجوش و بر مجه ز آتش‌کنی

The housewife goes on hitting it with the ladle. “No!” says she: “boil nicely and don't jump away from one who makes the fire.

زان نجوشانم که مکروه منی ** بلک تا گیری تو ذوق و چاشنی

I do not boil you because you are hateful to me: nay, ’tis that you may get taste and savour,

تا غذی گردی بیامیزی بجان ** بهرخواری نیستت این امتحان

So that you may become nutriment and mingle with the (vital) spirit: this affliction of yours is not on account of (your) being despised.

آب می‌خوردی به بستان سبز و تر ** بهراین آتش بدست آن آب خور4165

You, when green and fresh, were drinking water in the garden: that water-drinking was for the sake of this fire.”

رحمتش سابق بدست از قهر زان ** تا ز رحمت گردد اهل امتحان

His (God's) mercy is prior to His wrath, to the end that by (God's) mercy he (the afflicted person) may suffer affliction.

رحمتش بر قهر از آن سابق شدست ** تا که سرمایه‌ی وجود آید بدست

His (God's) mercy (eternally) preceded His wrath in order that the stock-in-trade, (which is) existence, should come to hand (be acquired);

زانک بی‌لذت نروید لحم و پوست ** چون نروید چه گدازد عشق دوست

For, without pleasure, flesh and skin do not grow; and unless they grow, what shall the love of the Friend consume?

زان تقاضا گر بیاید قهرها ** تا کنی ایثار آن سرمایه را

If, because of that requirement, acts of wrath come to pass, to the end that you may give up that stock-in-trade,

باز لطف آید برای عذر او ** که بکردی غسل و بر جستی ز جو4170

(Yet) again (afterwards) the Grace (of God) will come in order to excuse it (the act of wrath), saying, “(Now) thou hast washed thyself (clean) and hast leaped forth from the river (of tribulation).”

گوید ای نخود چریدی در بهار ** رنج مهمان تو شد نیکوش دار

She (the housewife) says, “O chickpea, thou didst feed in the springtime: (now) Pain has become thy guest: entertain him well,

تا که مهمان باز گردد شکر ساز ** پیش شه گوید ز ایثار تو باز

That the guest may return (home), giving thanks (for his entertainment), and may relate thy generosity in the presence of the King,

تا به جای نعمتت منعم رسد ** جمله نعمتها برد بر تو حسد

So that the Bestower of favour may come to thee instead of the favour, and that all favours may envy thee.

من خلیلم تو پسر پیش بچک ** سر بنه انی ارانی اذبحک

I am Khalíl (Abraham), and thou art my son: lay thy head before the knife:lo, I see (in a dream) that I shall sacrifice thee.

سر به پیش قهر نه دل بر قرار ** تا ببرم حلقت اسمعیل‌وار4175

Lay thy head before (my) wrath, with heart unmoved, that I may cut thy throat, like (that of) Ismá‘íl (Ishmael).

سر ببرم لیک این سر آن سریست ** کز بریده گشتن و مردن بریست

I will cut off thy head, but this head is the head that is immune from being cut off and (from) dying;